Improvement in spring-brim hats



UNTTED STATES SMITH COLLINS, OF NEV PATENT EEICE.

HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING-ERIM HATS.

.To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, SMITH COLLINS, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State ot' Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hats, and I do hereb y declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, and which said drawings constitute part of this specication, and represent, in

Figure l, a perspective view of a hat with my improvement in its construction; Figs. 2 and 3, cross sections ofthe hoop, enlarged; and in Figs. 4 and 5; the manner oi'joining the two ends of the hoop.

My invention has for its object to improve that class ot' hats made from i'abrics; and it consists in inserting in the brim a hoop ot' corrugated or concave-convex steel wire, instead of the round or i'lat wire generally used, whereby the weight of the hat is very much reduced and the form of the brim improved.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct hats with my improvement, I will proceed to fully describe the same, in connection with the accompanying drawings.

I rst roll the wire for my hoops very thin, rising such size wire as will roll about onehalt' the thickness and the usual width of the wire generally used, and consequent-ly my wire is but about one-halt' the usual weight of wire rolled for hoops. Ithen pass the wire thus rolled between rolls formed for the purpose to corrugate it, as shown in section, Fig. 2, much enlarged, or concavo-convex, as in Fig. 3, also equally enlarged. I prefer the concavo-convex, after which, temper in thc usual manner. By this form the wire attains a lateral spring, which cannot be had in ordinary tlat wire, and which adds materially to the graceful curvature of the brim. I cit the wire into proper lengths and imite the two ends by a single clasp, a., as in Figs. and 5, the convex side of one end iitting into the concave side ofthe other end. (See Fig. 4.) A very short clasp is therefore required, as this form prevents them from turning upon each other, whereas in clasping flat wire, one broad clasp or two are required to perform the same duty-another saving in the use of my invention. Thus clasped, the hoop is ready to insert in the brim of the hat. I place it at the edge, closing the fabric over it, and binding, in the usual manner, as for ilat or round wire. Cue hoop is all that is required to give form to and retain that form in the brim. Thus I produce a hat much lighter and with a more tlexible rim than can be practically made with iiat wire. To prevent the wire from rusting, I galvanize, or jappan, or otherwise coat it, and, if deemed advisable, the wire may be covered in the usual manner by braiding-machines; but I prefer it without covermg.

Having therefore fully described my invention, I do not broadly claim the employment of steel or other wire for the purpose ot' giving to or retaining the form ot' hat brims, as .such is not new; but

I do claim as of my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent*- A hat constructed of :liexible material, its rim extended and form retained by means ot one or more convavo-convex or corrugated steel hoops, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

SMITH COLL INS.

IVitnesses JOHN E. EARLE, ItUEUs SANFORD. 

